Justice News

Local Man Handed Major Sentence in Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracy

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 55-year-old Robstown man has been ordered to federal prison for nearly 20 years following his multiple convictions as related to a cocaine and heroin conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A federal jury convicted Rolando Hinojosa Jan. 11, 2018, following a two-day trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession of 2.9 kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to launder narcotics proceeds.

Today, U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack ordered him to prison for 235 months. The court also ordered the forfeiture of his interest in his residence and $96,445 seized at the time of his arrest.

At today’s hearing, Judge Jack commented that Hinojosa has been involved in moving a lot of heroin for many years.

During the trial, the jury heard that an undercover officer had begun purchasing heroin from the organization in April 2016. Members of the conspiracy testified that the organization was involved in two types of narcotics trafficking - local, large-scale heroin distribution in Nueces County and interstate distribution of kilogram quantities of cocaine. Hinojosa was the source of supply for both types of narcotics.

The jury also learned about a pre-paid telephone found on Hinojosa’s bedside table that led to authorities discovering the trail of cocaine from Hinojosa to a Kentucky distributor. From further phone analysis, authorities discovered a narcotics courier who had been arrested in August 2017 returning from Kentucky with $76,000 in narcotics currency intended for Hinojosa.

That courier testified at trial that he successfully delivered several kilograms of cocaine to Kentucky in August 2017 after receiving it from Hinojosa.

Hinojosa has been and will remain in custody where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Muschenheim is prosecuting the case.